Ondraanavan Uruvil
From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. B. Sundarambal
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thiruvilaiyadal1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ondraanavan uruvil irandaanavan | He is the One Supreme Being, who manifested as two forms (Shiva and Shakti). |
| Uruvaana sendhamizhil moondraanavan | He became the three forms of refined Tamil (Literature, Music, and Drama). |
| Ondraanavan uruvil irandaanavan | He is the One Supreme Being, who manifested as two forms. |
| Uruvaana sendhamizhil moondraanavan | He became the three forms of refined Tamil. |
| Nandraana vedhaththil naangaanavan | He became the four sacred Vedas. |
| Namachchivaaya ena aindhaanavan | He became the five letters of the holy chant 'Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya'. |
| Nandraana vedhaththil naangaanavan | He became the four sacred Vedas. |
| Namachchivaaya ena aindhaanavan | He became the five letters of the holy chant 'Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya'. |
| Female | |
| Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan | He became the six sweet tastes of life. |
| Aaaa….aaa….aaa… | Aaaa....aaa....aaa... |
| Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan | He became the six sweet tastes of life. |
| Innisai swrangalil ezhaanavan | He became the seven notes of sweet music. |
| Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan | He became the six sweet tastes of life. |
| Innisai swrangalil ezhaanavan | He became the seven notes of sweet music. |
| Siththikkum porulgalil ettaanavan | He became the eight spiritual powers and elemental manifestations. |
| Siththikkum porulgalil ettaanavan | He became the eight spiritual powers and elemental manifestations. |
| Thiththikkum navarasa viththaanavan | He became the origin of the sweet nine emotional expressions. |
| Thiththikkum navarasa viththaanavan | He became the origin of the sweet nine emotional expressions. |
| Female | |
| Paththaanavan nenjil patraanavan | He became the ten directions, and the divine devotion abiding in the heart. |
| Pannirukai velavanai petraanavan | He fathered Lord Velavan (Murugan) who possesses twelve arms. |
| Mutradhavan moola mudhalaanavan | He is the Ageless One, the ultimate source of all creation. |
| Munnaikkum pinnaikkum naduvaanavan | He stands as the eternal center between the past and the future. |
| Munnaikkum pinnaikkum naduvaanavan | He stands as the eternal center between the past and the future. |
| Female | |
| Aanaagi pennaagi nindraanavan | He manifested as man, manifested as woman, and stood as all. |
| Avaiyondru thaanendru sonnaanavan | He declared that both male and female are truly one entity. |
| Aanaagi pennaagi nindraanavan | He manifested as man, manifested as woman, and stood as all. |
| Avaiyondru thaanendru sonnaanavan | He declared that both male and female are truly one entity. |
| Thaan paadhi umai paadhi kondaanavan | He took one half for Himself and reserved one half for Goddess Parvati. |
| Saripaadhi penmaikku thandhaanavan | He granted an exact equal half of Himself to womanhood. |
| Female | |
| Kaatraanavan kuliraanavan | He became the wind, and He became the soothing cool breeze. |
| Neeraanavan neruppaanavan | He became the water, and He became the blazing fire. |
| Netraagi indraagi endraikkum nilaiyaagi | Becoming yesterday, today, and eternal forever, |
| Oootraagi nindraanavan | He stood as the everlasting spring of life. |
| Anbil oliyaagi nindraanavan | He stood as the guiding light within pure love. |
ஒன்றானவன்
உருவில் இரண்டானவன்
உருவான செந்தமிழில்
மூன்றானவன் ஒன்றானவன்
உருவில் இரண்டானவன்
உருவான செந்தமிழில்
மூன்றானவன் நன்றான
வேதத்தில் நான்கானவன்
நமச்சிவாய என ஐந்தானவன்
நன்றான வேதத்தில் நான்கானவன்
நமச்சிவாய என ஐந்தானவன்
He is the One Supreme Being, who manifested as two forms (Shiva and Shakti).
He became the three forms of refined Tamil (Literature, Music, and Drama).
He is the One Supreme Being, who manifested as two forms.
He became the three forms of refined Tamil.
He became the four sacred Vedas.
He became the five letters of the holy chant 'Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya'.
He became the four sacred Vedas.
He became the five letters of the holy chant 'Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya'.
இன்பச் சுவைகளுக்குள்
ஆறானவன் ஆஆ ஆஆ ஆஆ
இன்பச் சுவைகளுக்குள்
ஆறானவன் இன்னிசை
ஸ்வரங்களில் ஏழானவன்
சித்திக்கும் பொருள்களில்
எட்டானவன் சித்திக்கும்
பொருள்களில் எட்டானவன்
தித்திக்கும் நவரச வித்தானவன்
தித்திக்கும் நவரச வித்தானவன்
He became the six sweet tastes of life.
Aaaa....aaa....aaa...
He became the six sweet tastes of life.
He became the seven notes of sweet music.
He became the six sweet tastes of life.
He became the seven notes of sweet music.
He became the eight spiritual powers and elemental manifestations.
He became the eight spiritual powers and elemental manifestations.
He became the origin of the sweet nine emotional expressions.
He became the origin of the sweet nine emotional expressions.
பத்தானவன்
நெஞ்சில் பற்றானவன்
பன்னிருகை வேலவனைப்
பெற்றானவன் முற்றாதவன்
மூல முதலானவன்
முன்னைக்கும் பின்னைக்கும்
நடுவானவன் முன்னைக்கும்
பின்னைக்கும் நடுவானவன்
He became the ten directions, and the divine devotion abiding in the heart.
He fathered Lord Velavan (Murugan) who possesses twelve arms.
He is the Ageless One, the ultimate source of all creation.
He stands as the eternal center between the past and the future.
He stands as the eternal center between the past and the future.
ஆணாகிப் பெண்ணாகி
நின்றானவன் அவையொன்று
தானென்று சொன்னானவன்
ஆணாகிப் பெண்ணாகி
நின்றானவன் அவையொன்று
தானென்று சொன்னானவன்
தான்பாதி உமைபாதி
கொண்டானவன் சரிபாதி
பெண்மைக்குத் தந்தானவன்
He manifested as man, manifested as woman, and stood as all.
He declared that both male and female are truly one entity.
He manifested as man, manifested as woman, and stood as all.
He declared that both male and female are truly one entity.
He took one half for Himself and reserved one half for Goddess Parvati.
He granted an exact equal half of Himself to womanhood.
காற்றானவன்
குளிரானவன் நீரானவன்
நெருப்பானவன் நேற்றாகி
இன்றாகி என்றைக்கும்
நிலையாகி ஊற்றாகி
நின்றானவன் அன்பின்
ஒளியாகி நின்றானவன்
He became the wind, and He became the soothing cool breeze.
He became the water, and He became the blazing fire.
Becoming yesterday, today, and eternal forever,
He stood as the everlasting spring of life.
He stood as the guiding light within pure love.
Ondraanavan uruvil irandaanavan
He is the One Supreme Being, who manifested as two forms (Shiva and Shakti).
Uruvaana sendhamizhil moondraanavan
He became the three forms of refined Tamil (Literature, Music, and Drama).
Ondraanavan uruvil irandaanavan
He is the One Supreme Being, who manifested as two forms.
Uruvaana sendhamizhil moondraanavan
He became the three forms of refined Tamil.
Nandraana vedhaththil naangaanavan
He became the four sacred Vedas.
Namachchivaaya ena aindhaanavan
He became the five letters of the holy chant 'Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya'.
Nandraana vedhaththil naangaanavan
He became the four sacred Vedas.
Namachchivaaya ena aindhaanavan
He became the five letters of the holy chant 'Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya'.
Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan
He became the six sweet tastes of life.
Aaaa….aaa….aaa…
Aaaa....aaa....aaa...
Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan
He became the six sweet tastes of life.
Innisai swrangalil ezhaanavan
He became the seven notes of sweet music.
Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan
He became the six sweet tastes of life.
Innisai swrangalil ezhaanavan
He became the seven notes of sweet music.
Siththikkum porulgalil ettaanavan
He became the eight spiritual powers and elemental manifestations.
Siththikkum porulgalil ettaanavan
He became the eight spiritual powers and elemental manifestations.
Thiththikkum navarasa viththaanavan
He became the origin of the sweet nine emotional expressions.
Thiththikkum navarasa viththaanavan
He became the origin of the sweet nine emotional expressions.
Paththaanavan nenjil patraanavan
He became the ten directions, and the divine devotion abiding in the heart.
Pannirukai velavanai petraanavan
He fathered Lord Velavan (Murugan) who possesses twelve arms.
Mutradhavan moola mudhalaanavan
He is the Ageless One, the ultimate source of all creation.
Munnaikkum pinnaikkum naduvaanavan
He stands as the eternal center between the past and the future.
Munnaikkum pinnaikkum naduvaanavan
He stands as the eternal center between the past and the future.
Aanaagi pennaagi nindraanavan
He manifested as man, manifested as woman, and stood as all.
Avaiyondru thaanendru sonnaanavan
He declared that both male and female are truly one entity.
Aanaagi pennaagi nindraanavan
He manifested as man, manifested as woman, and stood as all.
Avaiyondru thaanendru sonnaanavan
He declared that both male and female are truly one entity.
Thaan paadhi umai paadhi kondaanavan
He took one half for Himself and reserved one half for Goddess Parvati.
Saripaadhi penmaikku thandhaanavan
He granted an exact equal half of Himself to womanhood.
Kaatraanavan kuliraanavan
He became the wind, and He became the soothing cool breeze.
Neeraanavan neruppaanavan
He became the water, and He became the blazing fire.
Netraagi indraagi endraikkum nilaiyaagi
Becoming yesterday, today, and eternal forever,
Oootraagi nindraanavan
He stood as the everlasting spring of life.
Anbil oliyaagi nindraanavan
He stood as the guiding light within pure love.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic devotional song from 'Thiruvilaiyadal' (1965) is a poetic numerical progression praising the cosmic, infinite nature of Lord Shiva. Lyricist Kannadasan sequentially integrates sacred numbers from one to twelve with cosmological and cultural concepts: 1 (the Supreme One), 2 (Shiva and Shakti), 3 (the forms of Tamil literature), 4 (Vedas), 5 (Panchakshara Mantra 'Na-Ma-Si-Va-Ya'), 6 (tastes), 7 (musical notes), 8 (Ashtasiddhis/elements), 9 (Navarasas), 10 (directions/devotion), and 12 (the twelve-armed Murugan). Beyond the mathematical cadence, the hymn explores Shiva as the transcendent divine force existing outside time, age, and form. It celebrates the profound philosophy of Ardhanarishvara—where Shiva shares half his body with Goddess Uma—symbolizing absolute balance, unity of cosmic forces, and ultimate gender equality. The song concludes by identifying God as all elements of nature (wind, water, fire) and the supreme light radiating through unconditional love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ennum / Numerical Progression (எண்ணும் நயம்)
“Ondraanavan ... Pannirukai velavanai petraanavan”
The lyrics use a structured numerical count from 1 (Ondru) to 12 (Pannirandu) to map out key philosophical concepts in Hinduism and Tamil lore.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kaatraanavan kuliraanavan”
The line repeats the initial 'K' sound ('Kaat...' and 'Kuli...'), adding rhythmic harmony.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Inba chuvaigalukkul aaraanavan / Innisai swrangalil ezhaanavan”
The second consonant 'n' (ன்) in 'Inba' and 'Innisai' matches, creating classical Tamil ethugai rhyme.
Anaphora / Refrain (-aanavan)
“Kaatraanavan / Kuliraanavan / Neeraanavan / Neruppaanavan”
The repetitive suffix '-aanavan' ('He became...') across multiple lines builds cumulative emotional and philosophical resonance.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered by the legendary devotional singer-actress K. B. Sundarambal, this song is considered one of the greatest devotional compositions in Tamil cinema history. Written by Kannadasan, the song masterfully illustrates the concept of 'Ardhanarishvara' (half-male, half-female divinity), depicting spiritual gender equality in classical Tamil poetry.
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